Woman attacked by rabid bobcat
By Tia Maggio
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JEKYLL ISLAND, Georgia (WJCL) — A terrifying scene unfolded Sunday on Jekyll Island when a woman was attacked by a rabid bobcat in front of families at the island’s miniature golf course.
Investigators say the woman was walking between holes at Jekyll Island Miniature Golf when the bobcat suddenly charged and latched onto her leg. Families nearby ran for cover, but one man ran toward the danger.
Joshua Thornton said he heard a scream and saw the attack happening right in front of him.
“I assumed it was like a pet or something misbehaving. But you know, after looking a little harder, I saw that she was getting attacked by something,” Thornton said.
Thornton said he didn’t hesitate to jump in.
“I ran and helped her. And, I got the animal off of her and, you know, got to shoo it away. And, you know, try to contain a little bit. But then I made sure, you know, everybody was off the golf course,” Thornton said.
Jekyll Island officials confirmed the bobcat was killed after the attack. The woman suffered bite marks and scratches to her leg and drove herself to the hospital for treatment.
Thornton said the animal’s behavior was unlike anything he’s seen on the island.
“I’ve never seen one attack somebody — that was wild. I mean, he was definitely trying to kill something,” Thornton said.
Bobcats are commonly spotted on Jekyll Island — residents often share videos of them roaming in yards — but officials say this incident is unprecedented. In a statement, Jekyll Island Authority said:
“This person did not provoke the bobcat or do anything to cause the injuries that occurred. Incidents like this are extremely rare, and there is no immediate threat to the general public.”
The Glynn County Health Department confirmed the bobcat tested positive for rabies, a potentially deadly virus. They say unprovoked aggression is one of the key warning signs.
“For an animal to randomly attack somebody, that’s definitely not normal. There was definitely some abnormal,” Thornton said.
The woman has been advised to receive treatment for rabies exposure.
Officials are urging the public to avoid unnecessary interaction with wildlife, keep pets vaccinated and supervised, and report any unusual or aggressive animal behavior immediately.
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